Coverage of the films we finance and the people who structure them — from the trades that follow independent film most closely.
Our work and our founders have been covered by national news, the entertainment trades, and the legal press.
Casting announcements, market launches, and production news on projects our team finances and produces. Each headline links to the original article.
Deify · Psychological Horror
Seven principal cast additions — including Dennis Haysbert, Ashley Greene, and Kirk Acevedo — join the Chicago-shot courtroom horror film now in production, co-directed by Act One co-founder Carmelo Chimera with Nicholas Chimera.
Read on Deadline →Deify · Psychological Horror
Neal McDonough (Tulsa King) and Skeet Ulrich (Scream) lead Deify, a cult-leader-on-trial thriller inspired in part by the 1993 Waco standoff, from filmmakers Carmelo and Nicholas Chimera.
Read on Deadline →Kaet Might Die · Dark Comedy
The Awkwafina-led adaptation of Kaet McAnneny’s memoir wraps production with new cast additions. Act One co-founder Carmelo Chimera is an executive producer on the film.
Read on Deadline →Mini War · Comedy
The team behind Grandma’s Boy reunites for an R-rated comedy directed by Joel David Moore, with Luke Wilson, Vanessa Hudgens, and Nick Swardson. Carmelo Chimera executive produces.
Read on Deadline →Behind the Mask II · Horror
Art the Clown himself joins the long-awaited slasher sequel from Paper Street Pictures. Variety names Carmelo Chimera and Syed Ali Saeed of Act One Media among the film’s executive producers.
Read on Variety →Kaet Might Die · Dark Comedy
Capture Entertainment launches international sales at Cannes on the wrapped memoir adaptation, with CAA co-representing domestic. Carmelo Chimera is credited among the executive producers.
Read on Deadline →Behind the Mask II · Horror
Variety confirms Behind the Mask II: The Return of Leslie Vernon, bringing back director Scott Glosserman, writer David J. Stieve, and the original cast for a fan-driven sequel that Act One’s founders executive produce.
Read on Variety →We’re glad to speak with journalists covering independent film finance, tax-advantaged investment structures, state production incentives, or any of the projects above. Our founders are available for interviews, background, and commentary.
Act One Media is a Chicago-based film finance company that structures win-win financing for independent films — deals that work for filmmakers and investors. Founded by Carmelo Chimera and Syed Ali Saeed, the firm has structured more than $69M in capital across 22+ projects using tax-advantaged equity, secured debt, and state production incentives.
Whether you’re an investor exploring film as an alternative asset or a filmmaker with a project to finance, it starts with a conversation.
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